When journalist Abigail Nicholson was asked to try Pukka Pie's new Chicken Vindaloo flavour, she admits she was reluctant. Her only reference points for spice were a hot beef curry from her Chinese takeaway and playing wing roulette at Nando's. At Nando's, she recalls crying after trying the extra hot chicken wing while downing a glass of Coke Zero that was about 70% ice. So when Pukka's new pie boasts a four-chilli rating, she was petrified once the air fryer alarm indicated it was cooked.
A Pie for the World Cup
Pukka has described the new item as their hottest pie to date. It contains pieces of chicken, red peppers, and onions in an extra spicy vindaloo curry sauce, encased in a light puff pastry. Isaac Fisher, CEO at Pukka, said: 'Pukka and football go hand in hand, so there was no better time to launch this new pie as we head into a huge summer of international football, particularly when England fans relate Vindaloo so closely to the game.' He added that for many fans, a Pukka pie is an essential part of match day, whether in the stands or on the sofa, and they are excited to bring a bold new flavour to fire up half-time.
First Impressions
Nicholson had only ever tried traditional pies with thick gravy or white sauce, so she was unsure about a curry in pie form. Upon cutting the pie in half, the spice hit her nose immediately, prompting her to prepare kitchen roll and water for the anticipated tears or runny nose. However, after one bite, she was surprised by the flavour. She notes that often when it comes to spice, companies forget about flavour, but Pukka got it spot on. The Vindaloo Chicken pie is a perfect mix of spice and flavour, with tomatoes, garlic, and ginger complementing the chicken perfectly.
She thought the pie would be hotter but concluded she might be better at handling spice than she thought. She managed to get halfway through the pie before her eyes started to water, but the pure flavour genuinely blew her away.
